Thandiwe Abdullah
Thandiwe Abdullah | |
|---|---|
| Born | 2003 or 2004 (age 21–22) |
| Alma mater | Howard University |
| Occupation | Political activist |
| Parent | Melina Abdullah (mother) |
Thandiwe Abdullah is an American political activist best known for her support of the Black Lives Matter movement. She is a co-founder of the Black Lives Matter Youth Vanguard which advocates for the reduction of police in schools.
Biography
[edit]Abdullah is the daughter of Melina Abdullah, one of the co-founders of Black Lives Matter LA.[1] She grew up in the Crenshaw District of Los Angeles[2] and has Jewish heritage on her mother's side.[3] She majored in African-American studies at Howard University.[3]
As a child, her mother brought her along to protests including a rally in support of the Jena Six when she was 2[4] and marching in protest of the murder of Oscar Grant when she was 6.[5] At age 10, during the Ferguson protests that arose in response to the killing of Michael Brown in 2014, she took notice of the lack of teenagers and other youth.[6] This led her to co-found Black Lives Matter Youth Vanguard in 2015.[6] The group advocates for the reduction of police in schools and was successful in stopping random police searches in Los Angeles schools.[7] In 2018, Abdullah addressed a crowd of 500,000 at the Women's March in Los Angeles.[8]
All the sudden I’m seeing huge corporations that were once shying away from the controversy of even admitting that my life matters, saying, 'Hey, your life, it matters now... so here’s a 50%-off, all-black hoodie.'
Abdullah created Black Lives Matter in Schools when she was 15,[10] an effort that promotes racial justice that was eventually adopted by the Los Angeles School Board.[6] She also is involved with the March for Our Lives, a student-led organization which demonstrates in support of gun control legislation.[8] Abdullah has been critical of corporations "co-opting" the Black Lives Matter movement.[9]
Awards and honors
[edit]In 2018, Abdullah was named one of Time magazine's 25 Most Influential Teens[11] for being "one of her generation’s most powerful voices on issues relating to social justice".[10]
References
[edit]- ^ Janfaza, Rachel (June 3, 2020). "Across the country, young activists take different approaches in the name of justice for George Floyd". CNN. Retrieved January 31, 2026.
- ^ Silva, Tiffany (June 4, 2020). "Sixteen-Year Old Thandiwe Abdullah is Making a Difference Championing for Black Lives". BCK Online. Retrieved January 31, 2026.
- ^ a b Foote, Omari (November 16, 2022). "Black Jewish Students Detail Their Feelings About Antisemitism". The Hilltop. Retrieved February 1, 2026.
- ^ Twersky, Carolyn (December 1, 2020). "Thandiwe Abdullah is Leading the Next Generation of the Black Lives Matter Movement". Seventeen. Retrieved February 1, 2026.
- ^ Austin, Julia (January 17, 2022). "7 Youth Activists Who Stand On The Shoulders Of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr". MadameNoire. Retrieved February 1, 2026.
- ^ a b c Hamilton, Mackenzie (February 1, 2022). "Generation Next: Thandiwe Abdullah". Cero Magazine. Retrieved January 31, 2026.
- ^ Vargas, Chris (March 25, 2021). "21 Under 21: Unstoppable Young Women Manifesting a Brighter Future". PopSugar. Retrieved February 1, 2026.
- ^ a b "Five child and youth activists you need to know". UNICEF. June 29, 2025. Retrieved February 1, 2026.
- ^ a b Gerber, Marisa; Castillo, Andrea (May 23, 2021). "They took to the streets after George Floyd's murder. Now, they fight to keep change going". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 1, 2026.
- ^ a b "TIME's 25 Most Influential Teens of 2018". Time. December 10, 2018. Retrieved January 31, 2026.
- ^ Malone, Audrey (December 31, 2023). "Voices of Change: Young Black Activists to Follow". The Black Wall Street Times. Retrieved January 31, 2026.